"Miss Zhao Ji, Young Master Lu Yu, General Cao Xiu has arrived to pay his respects outside the courtyard."
"I've heard that Lord Cao has personally led his troops out of the city to quell the Moth rebels. He has specially sent General Cao Xiu to guard the safety of the Wei Manor."
A servant from the Wei Manor announced.
Cai Zhao Ji's eyes turned to Lu Yu, who pursed his lips and murmured his name... "Cao Xiu?"
Lu Yu pondered... With so many merits earned on the front lines, what business does this "swift steed" have here?
Could it be that Old Cao specifically sent him to protect me?
Lu Yu's eyes narrowed. This would indeed be typical of Old Cao's character – his "thirst for talent"!
However, Cao Xiu's arrival is timely.
He mused to himself.
"Let General Cao enter..."
Lu Yu yawned, stretching lazily, still seated on his lounge chair. Cai Zhao Ji gracefully stood up.
Speaking of Cao Xiu, the siblings were not unfamiliar with him. He was a centurion in the Qiao Pei army camp. To lead Cao's most elite hundred-man unit at the age of twenty was a sign of boundless potential.
With the sound of "thump-thump," Cao Xiu entered... Upon seeing the two individuals before him, his footsteps faltered, and his eyes simultaneously narrowed in surprise.
Lu Yu? Cai Yan?
Aren't these the brother and sister from the logistics department of the Qiao Pei army camp? He remembered Cai Yan was the daughter of his uncle Cao Cao's old friend, which was why his uncle had taken them in!
But? Why, after just a few days, have they become honored guests of the Wei Manor? And why is his uncle Cao Cao so cautious in protecting them?
Thinking this, Cao Xiu felt a pang of disappointment. After all, the disparity in their current status was significant. He had initially believed them to be great scholars of the era, but now, they were siblings whose status just a few days ago was far below his own?
This...
To forgo many opportunities to earn merit on the front lines, only to be tasked with their protection? Anyone would feel a shift in their mood.
"Greetings, General Cao." Cai Zhao Ji maintained her usual grace and scholarly demeanor, bowing first...
Lu Yu also cupped his hands in greeting. "Young General Cao, long time no see..."
Cao Xiu returned the bow. "I did not expect the esteemed guests that Old Wei spoke of to be Miss Zhao Ji and Young Master Lu Yu..." Although he felt a sense of displeasure, Cao Xiu's tone was quite gentle.
After all, he held no grudges against Cai Yan and Lu Yu, and this escort duty was his uncle Cao Cao's command... There was no reason to let his inner disappointment spill onto these siblings.
With that in mind, Cao Xiu added, "I am here to ensure the safety of the Wei Manor under Lord Cao's orders."
"Lord Cao specifically instructed me to deliver any correspondence from the Wei Manor to the front lines immediately."
His tone was calm, with no discernible emotional fluctuation; his words were merely perfunctory.
"Thank you for your trouble, Young General Cao." Hearing about the escort, Cai Zhao Ji bowed gracefully again, showing her gratitude... Such was her nature; she was kind to everyone around her, filled with goodwill towards all.
"I will be stationed outside the gates of the Wei Manor. If anything arises... please send someone to inform me." Cao Xiu bowed and took his leave. "Farewell."
Not being a great scholar or a renowned figure, he found the encounter rather uninspiring and Cao Xiu departed directly...
His uncle had ordered him to guard the Wei Manor, and he would dutifully perform this duty. However, as for visiting and seeking counsel...呵呵, a woman eloquent in literature but lacking in military strategy, and a lean youth who was a dependent... it was hardly worth his time.
Turning, he was about to leave...
"General Cao, please wait..."
At this moment, Lu Yu called out to stop Cao Xiu. "I have an item here that needs to be delivered to Lord Cao."
Hmm...
Cao Xiu turned back to look at Lu Yu again. As their eyes met, he felt that Lu Yu's gaze was exceptionally profound, as if it could see through his innermost thoughts.
"An item?" Cao Xiu inquired...
"Please wait a moment, General Cao." Lu Yu blinked, then gave Cai Zhao Ji a meaningful glance.
Cai Zhao Ji immediately understood and hurried to retrieve the inconspicuous "potted plant" from a corner under the grape arbor. The wooden pot was tall and large, filled with soil.
Beans were planted at the very bottom. Unlike other potted plants, Lu Yu had placed a stone tablet on top of the beans.
The stone tablet bore eight characters, which Cai Zhao Ji had written in seal script according to Lu Yu's instructions. These were all buried deeply within the soil.
Even at this moment, Cai Zhao Ji remained utterly bewildered by Lu Yu's "potted plant."
However, she assumed Lu Yu's actions must have a deeper meaning. Surely, they must!
With the "potted plant" brought over, Lu Yu pointed to it and said to Cao Xiu, "I would trouble General to deliver this 'potted plant' to Lord Cao... This 'potted plant' is of great importance to the situation in Yan Province. General Cao must water it once in the morning and once in the evening; do not delay."
"If Lord Cao asks, tell him that this potted plant is related to his subjugation of the thirty thousand Yellow Turban rebels!"
This...
Cao Xiu felt somewhat bewildered.
Firstly, regarding Lu Yu's initial statement, Cao Xiu was a centurion, leading a hundred men. For him to deliver a pot of 'flowers and plants' to the front lines? And to water it twice a day... This felt like it was not very damaging but extremely insulting.
Secondly, a potted plant? Flowers and plants? This was completely unrelated to the campaign against the Moth rebels. How could it be related to his uncle subduing thirty thousand Moth rebels?
Cao Xiu felt his intelligence was being deeply insulted.
But what of it?
His uncle Cao Cao had repeatedly emphasized that any correspondence or items from the Wei Manor must be delivered to the front lines immediately, without fail.
His uncle's words at the time were exceptionally serious, not to be taken lightly!
Even if it was a "potted plant," even if it was unrelated "flowers and plants," as long as it came from the Wei Manor, Cao Xiu had to deliver it.
"Alas..." With a sigh of helplessness, Cao Xiu reluctantly took the wooden pot. "Since Young Master Lu Yu has instructed it, I will personally deliver it to the front lines..."
"Does Young Master Lu have any other words you wish me to convey to Lord Cao?"
"No more." Lu Yu spread his hands... "Lord Cao is exceptionally intelligent; he will understand once he sees this potted plant!"
Actually, Lu Yu had initially intended to hand this potted plant to Old Cao himself. However, upon hearing that Old Cao had already mustered troops and gone to the front lines, he had to entrust it to someone else.
Ultimately, Lu Yu was rather timid. The front lines were such a dangerous place; if he could avoid it, he would.
He had come to Cao's camp to live a good life, enjoying grapes and basking in the sun, served by a host of beautiful maidservants – how comfortable that was! Why risk danger on the front lines!
This sort of task was best left to Cao Xiu... In any case, he could roughly guess that this fellow was eagerly anticipating earning merit on the front lines.
As such, he would give him a "favor in passing"!
"Cao Xiu takes his leave." With the same placid voice as flowing water, Cao Xiu departed with the potted plant...
His heart ached.
Guarding the Wei Manor, escorting the Cai Zhao Ji siblings, and delivering a wooden pot full of soil to the front lines – what kind of errands were these?
He felt his luck was utterly abysmal.
However, it was not entirely bad. By using this escort mission for the "potted plant," he could reach the front lines.
Cao Xiu pondered to himself that when he met his uncle Cao Cao, he would definitely request to stay and fight to earn merit. This duty of guarding the Wei Manor and escorting these siblings was truly stifling.
After Cao Xiu departed...
Cai Zhao Ji glanced around. The servants were still sweating profusely, planting soybeans. Thinking of the wooden pot that General Cao Xiu had taken away, even she, as the elder sister, was full of questions.
"Lu Yu, my dear brother? What exactly are you up to?"
"Our own plot of land has not yet yielded anything, yet you are handing this 'potted plant' to your elder brother on the front lines!"
"There is also a small stone tablet buried within this potted plant; what is the reason for that?"
A string of questions followed.
Cai Zhao Ji's eyes flickered continuously...
Countless question marks filled her mind.
Lu Yu smiled slightly and did not answer, putting on an air of mystery. "Sister Zhao Ji, you have read many books, yet you cannot discern my purpose. This proves one thing."
He paused, creating suspense.
"What thing?" Cai Zhao Ji asked eagerly.
Lu Yu looked at Sister Zhao Ji's cheeks with a smile, her face brimming with curiosity.
He immediately declared loudly, "As the saying goes, 'What is learned from books alone feels shallow; to truly know, one must personally practice.' Regarding these soybeans, the potted plant, and the stone tablet... Sister Zhao Ji, just wait and see, the show is about to begin!"
Saying this, Lu Yu lowered his voice, glancing at the surrounding pavilions and courtyards... He murmured, "Such great merit, Old Cao should at least reward me with a grand mansion, right?"
...
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